Organic Gardening Info from Peaceful Valley

After many years of apartment dwelling, I was finally able to move my family into a house with a cozy front yard, and a (relatively) nice sized back yard for the kids to play in, and for my wife to have a nice garden.

But the problem looks like this (please forgive the mess, still in the moving-in process):

When I was a kid, I used to HATE yard work.  My parents didn’t garden at all, so our maintenance involved raking leaves, watering plants and mowing the lawn — for a kid who likes to see the fruits of his efforts, this wasn’t exactly fulfilling.  Looking out over this relative desolation, I didn’t feel dejected; quite the opposite, in fact.  I saw opportunity, in many forms.

First of all, I have been working at Peaceful Valley for going on 6 years.  When I first started here, I knew zilch about growing.  Nothing.  I’d never so much as planted a flower seed in a pot for Mother’s Day. In my time here, I have gained a vast amount of theoretical knowledge: I knew the hows and the whys, but never had the opportunity to apply what I’d learned.  Seeing this yard sent visions of sugarplums (and other fruits and veggies) dancing in my head.

What I am going to be doing over the next 5 or so months is getting this area cleaned up, put together and ready for growing.  Come Spring, I’m planting a lawn, and my wife is setting up a small vegetable garden, probably with raised beds.  As I do each step, I will be taking pictures and thoroughly documenting each phase.  The goal is not only to do my own yard, but to give a bit of direction for anyone else who wishes to do the same.

Here’s the plan:

(more…)

Although I’ve been gardening for a few years, I have never grown sunflowers. I don’t really have a reason as to why I haven’t grown them before. But gosh, now I know what I’ve been missing!

I’m growing these sunflowers to cover my bathroom window. It took me a while to feel comfortable taking a shower in there with the window open for ventilation, but now I figure with all the things we have growing on and around the fences, nobody can see into my shower.

But for good measure…I decided to use sunflowers as a living screen. I get to look at beautiful green foliage and flowers while luxuriating in my (low flow) shower, the insects get something wonderful to feast on, the neighborhood can view the sunflowers peeking over the fence, and I can have privacy in my shower.

I had to start sunflowers a few times this year – the first couple rounds got sapped by unexpected (and unseasonably) cold weather. Once they took hold, they raced towards the sky!

I’ve planted a Harlequin mix – some are really tiny dwarf sunflowers, and some are larger (those ones will cover the window).

Is there anything you’ve tried for the first time this year?